BassPhil

Love these guys!!!

Wait!! What???! Neil Peart is dead...?? 😶😳😢 Missed that news...

This is a great example of a typical modern church set-up that is becoming very common in the UK...this was for a live album recording but this is pretty much the same as you'd find on a 'normal' Sunday morning...(Life Church Bradford & Leeds)

Oh...and there's also a whole magazine all about playing in church....it's bang up to date and includes advice for the tech team, bass player and drummer... https://www.worshipmusician.com

Hey! This is a great thread!! I've played bass almost exclusively in church for 30 years (had a sheltered life!) and I agree with a lot of the advice that's been offered already so I won't go over old ground...just a few things... It's definitely a thing that the key matters! For this reason I started to use an iPad app called OnSong - it's a bit pricey but I used it for years as my digital songbook, as did the lead guitarist in the band. It transposes with a tap. Do be sensitive to the audience (congregation I guess is the word) - it's an unusual gig because there are babies and old folk and everyone in between in the same room. Invest in some Subs if your sound set-up doesn't already have them. And then talk really nicely to the sound guys about what kind of sound you're looking for...I spent some years working with some sound guys who had me so low in the mix that I may as well have stayed home, that was until we agreed that bass is more about frequency than volume!! Rehearse with the drummer, if you have one - get to know how you both deal with changes in tempo, sudden shifts from verse to chorus, ad libs, etc... Don't forget that you own the root! Whatever you do in between, try to keep the root note solid because the congregation need all the help they can get to keep in the right key.... If you have an organ or cellist, or even a competent pianist, you really need to speak to them about who plays which parts. I had a great relationship with the cellist in a church I was in - she was very happy indeed to let me take the bass parts that she'd been holding down before I arrived. And don't forget that any organist worthy of playing a church organ will be pretty handy (feety) with the bass pedals and they have a lot of power but not much clarity - so rather than compete with them, get used to enjoying the middle range. Playing in church is where I learned to use and came across IEM's, Ableton live & logic, click tracks, synchronised videos, lighting rigs, smoke, feedback destroyers, 6x15 (x2) subwoofers!. I've also had the privilege of playing in every set-up from 1 guitarist through to a band with two drummers, percussionist, horn section, choir, 2 x electric, 2 acoustic guitar, string section.... Also - there's some excellent new church music out there that is pretty contemporary...don't limit yourself!! (It's been a long long time since I've played what most would recognise as a hymn!) Let us know how you get on...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grolsch-Spare-Washers-Swing-Bottles/dp/B0026WZB7W

Cry No More Tears - Sweet Chariots https://open.spotify.com/track/3YPwgHNkJVJgxLbkUwOm8B?si=4nRhF7XoTqaSESgFFDBvBQ

I agree with you @GuyR .... I play a Godin A4 fretted and absolutely love it. I used to play a lovely G&L L2000 but got rid of it because the Godin floated my boat far more. Not that loud without being plugged in to something but when it's plugged in the tone and sounds available are definitely sublime. Not only acoustic sound but can also hold its own in other styles too. Also- nice build quality with a super smooth and fast neck...oh and if your budget stretches that far you can of course plug straight into a Roland GR synth. If you can get anywhere to try a Godin I would recommend it...

I've got these and play bass in almost the identical set-up you describe. They're not completely sound isolating and have a good level of bass frequency...they are only dual drivers but that seems like plenty to me. They do have a triple driver for more money!! https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Shure-SE425-Sound-Isolating-Earphones-Clear/J35 Before those I had a set of these : https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Westone-UM-Pro-20-Earphones-Clear/2DPI they were really excellent until I stood on them!!!

Sounds a bit like your guitarist is misunderstanding 'Jamming' for 'Can you guess what I'm playing..' which is a different game. I played with a guitarist like this once and what I did in the end was to prepare my own 'riff for use when jamming' and then led from the bass and let the guitarist keep up with me...musically makes much more sense really imho. Could be a nice intro to funk for them too - learn a nice funk line that you can set up and keep going and then let them lay something over the top. My favourite there would be Rain Dance Maggie - RHCP. JUST NOTICED THAT THIS IS A THREAD FROM LAST YEAR!!! Oh well....hope the last few months have gone better for you...?

It's those new Rotosound Rubber Band gauge strings...

Anything by Acker Bilk or Kenny Ball for more Trad Jazz.

Oops - missed this!!

Back in 1992 a good friend of mine told me my jazz bass playing was too conservative so gave me this album on vinyl to listen to....Doesn't matter if you're sober or not when you listen to it!! Otherwise - for something a bit more accessible try anything by George Melly..✌️

That video doesn't make you want to buy one does it....All that solid bass and such a thin sound....